To ask what you do with your belongings when you go to the beach solo?

I have a large beach sheet its a polyester style material with a clip attached to it so i can then clip my bag onto it. The sheet has also a small pocket at one corner where i put loose change, sunglasses, sun lotion.
My thinking is if someone takes the bag then the sheet comes with them.
Its about 1.8 metres square.

You need a tow float. A good one has a dry pocket for keys, phone purse. I use one all the time when I swim in the sea then all I leave on the beach is a towel and maybe a cover up. I have a nasty pair of old sandals that no one would take.

https://alpkit.com/products/nori-tow-float

Id take minimal belongings, eg phone, 1 bank card, a lightweight towel etc, and use a waterproof swim back pack.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/waterproof-swimming-pouch-6l-transparent/170092/c183c104m8401949

Id probably have the phone in a waterproof pouch inside as well for double protection.

I always plonked my bag as close to the waters edge as I can, so I could keep an eye on it. Or sometimes right by the lifeguard station. I’ve also had me and another person on our own kind of share keeping an eye on each others stuff whilst we go in for our dips (usually another solo woman around same age, or sometime a small family once or twice)

Burying it is not very safe- thieves will be aware of this !

I admire you always travel with a baguette

I’m going to take a little dry bag - big enough for my phone & kindle and leave any other valuables in the hotel. Might double bag into a ziplock bag inside it if I’m actually swimming. The little dock and bay ones look nice. Clothes, towel etc should be fine on the beach.

Get a dry bag for valuables - you can just take it in the sea with you

Waterproof phone pouch to go around your neck and swim with it. Take a small lunchbox/container and bury anything valuable you can't leave behind just under your beach towel. Careful to remember to dig it up before you lift your towel which marks the spot.

I have asunhatwith a little pocket on it. I fold and €40 in there. Enough for ice creams. I leave everything else including valuables like wedding and engaging ring back at house. I travel light: a towel, suncream, my sun hat and a few bottles of water and a baguette. Nothing really worth stealing. If put car key and phone in my waterproof pouch and put down back of my costume and clip on to costume strap.

Inflatable tow float you can put all your things into and doubles as a rucksack, completely waterproof.

if you don’t love the look, you can easily bury it in a tote bag.

you’re welcome.

I have a puffin tow bag and it’s AMAZING! Keeps everything completely dry. If you’re worried you can use another waterproof pouch for the camera.
However, I swim every day in the sea and tend to leave my stuff in the beach unless I’m going for a few kms. Never had anything touched in the U.K. and Brighton is my local beach.

Years ago, in Gran Canaria l was sunbathing at the hotel swimming pool. And went to get some lunch at the hotel cafe. All Inclusive

I didn't have any money or valuables in my bag. Just sunscreen, room key card , extra towel etc

When l.went back to leave the pool to go back to my room. I put my hand into my beach bag and noticed my room key card was not in the same place in the beach bag where l had left it.

Thought this was a little odd. But just shrugged it off. When l got back to my room. Somebody has been in the room and stolen my passport and travellers cheques. Which l had kept in a draw.

My own fault for not using the room safe.

So someone, had been watching me around the pool and in the cafe. Got into my bag whilst l was away at the cafe. Taken my room key card. Gone up to my room. Entered the room and stole my passport and travellers cheques

Come back down again and put the key card back into my bag near the pool.

This is what profesional thieves call dipping. They watch you and where you go. When you leave, they dip there hand into you bag to see what they can find.

I was told by some guests later in the week and the Thomson Holiday Rep. That this sort of thing was rife in Gran Canaria at that time.

That the hotel staff could have been involved and even it could have been done by another guest who needed more spending money

So l was not at the beach but at a so called 4 star reputable hotel cha7n..

Moral of the story always gets a room safe and just go to the beach with as little as possible.

Hope this helps someone in the future.

Honestly, it’s of course risky but I’ve done it many times with no issues. Bring as few valuables as possible, make it difficult to take all your things and just keep an eye on your stuff when you’re in the water. Your phone is the most annoying thing to replace especially on holiday so that I’d usually keep with you in a waterproof case.

Then just be a little creative - keep your keys, and phone if you don’t mind, in one of these hidden water bottle things (I think they make scarf versions too). If someone knicks your bag they’re probably not going to pick up the water bottle beside it too. A camera is a bit tricky though maybe under your clothes or towel and definitley don’t swim to far… Water bottle with hidden storage

Or find another solo traveller to sit near, I’ve helped watch other people’s stuff before and most people’s would do they same

Not really. Most people are decent. I’ve been doing this for years and years and never had anything stolen. Sure I could be unlucky one day, but hey ho, there wouldn’t be much to steal in my bag anyway.

Have to say I’d be more inclined to go back to base, esp if you’ve been hiking, ditch hiking boots, maps, lunch stuff etc. If the place has a safe, leave phone, camera etc there with the passport etc & just take key & a bit of cash with you. It’ll go in a waist pouch fine & wont matter if a bit of damp gets in.
Rucksack & hiking boots lying on the beach could well indicate you’ve done more than just strolled from base to beach for a swim, so might well have more worth investigating…

Gullible and naive comes to mind!

I usually park myself next to a nice looking family and ask them to keep an eye on my stuff whilst I take a quick dip.

But why take the risk, when it’s avoidable?

I was on Miami Beach and I had a large hold-all and the only option was $250 for a cabana thing I didn’t want. A random guy chatting to the guy selling them said he’d watch my bag whilst I swim. Did this then mid swim realised if I came back and he’d gone I’d have nothing (my passport, phone, house keys. Wallet, clothes & £6k Cartier watch all in the bag!) but the bikini I was stood in and would surely not make my flight home in a few hours. Realised what an idiot I was being and hastily got out. He was there I gave him $50 as a tip was immensely grateful! I think it depends on beach and situation. I was really stupid then but if I was here/med and just had phone and some day things it’s not that big an impact or likely.

If you're planning on eating too could you choose a reasonable beach bar that has sunbed hire there too
These are well staffed and less likely to have dodgy people about as staff would be keeping an eye out?

You would think so, but last time I went for a solo swim someone stole my flip flops!!

We have those waterproof pouches you can wear, they work really well. So cheap too. I gave one to a lady and her daughter on holiday in Cornwall last year as she was going out jet skiing after us with her daughter and commented on them as we were coming out of the water.

Well, yes, but by that logic, you would avoid driving, walking, cycling etc.

I have a tow float.